Method of thermohumidity control.



F. D. WINDELL.

METHOD OF THERMOHUMIDITY CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1913.

1,1 1 3,724. Patented Oct. 13,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOB ATTORNEYS BY %MA). Q-CZJ M fi dm n/w .1". 11. WINDELL.

METHOD OF THERMOHUMIDITY CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1913. 1, 1 1 3,7 24.

, Patented 001.13, 1914.

2 SHEBTSS'HEET 2.

%;i-l'"'i Z WITNESSES I/, INVENTOR 7%Z%W' w I 2? BY /LW( FRA K I). WINDELL, or PHILADELPHTA, PENNSYLVANIA,

r0 HENRY LEWIS WILLIAMS, 0

METHOD OF THERMOHUMIDITY CONTROL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 6, 1913. Serial No. 765,838.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK D. WINDELL, a citizen of the United States, residin in the city and county of Philadelphia, S tate of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Method of Thermohumidity Control, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of automatically controlling the temperature and humidity in a room, apartment or in any number of rooms and apartments or the like, and has for an object to provide a system which is complete, unitary and sufiiciently sensitive to maintain the apparatus in a normal condition for any predetermined temperature or predetermined degree of moisture.

The method consists in mixing heated air With cold or tempered air in definite proportions according to a predetermined dedition being dependent upon the amount of moisture in the mixed air and the temperature of that air. The mixed air resulting from combining a supply of heated air with a supply of cold or tempered air is treated by introducin at a suitable point, saturated vapor preferably in the form of steam, and thereafter automatically varying the proportions of heated air with the cold or tempered air and also regulating the quantity of vapor added thereto, both of these steps being independently controlled according to desired conditions and each being independent of the other.

My invention further consists in the utilization of electricity as a means for accomplishing the desired regulation of mixed heating fluid and moisture in such fluid, whereby an apparatus employed for the same is rendered extremely sensitive and dependable for carrying out the steps to the desired end.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanyingdrawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the'same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists. can be variously arranged and organized and that my sired condition of the mixed fluid, such con-' or chimney, 3. A

I the several connection as installed for two rooms. Fig. 2

represents diagrammatically a plan of the installation of an apparatus for heating and controlling a number of rooms. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of a pressure controlled diaphragm valve used in connection with my system. Fig. 4 represents a vertical sect1on of an electrically controlled valve for govermng heat and humidity conditions in Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF. r rr'rrsnunen, PENNSYLVANIA.

accordance with the actuation of certain regulating devices. In carrying out my novel method of thermo-humidity control, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings one form of apparatus by means of which my method may be practised and in view of the fact that a number of the control and regulating devices are identical, described but one of such devices where others on other parts of the system are duplicates thereof.

Similar numerals ofreference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral .1 indicates a-boiler or similar generator, having a flue, 2, leading to a stack chamber, 100, has communication with the outer air through a fresh-air intake, 101, and with a tempering coil, 102, through which the fresh air passes and has its temperature suitably increased, whereupon the fresh air enters a fan, 103, riven by a motor, 104:, receiving steam from the boiler 1. The fan discharges into a chamber, 105, having suitable heating coils, 106, receiving steam from the boiler through a pipe, 66. Said heating chamber has a number of hot-air ducts, 4 and 5, leading to rooms or apartments to be heated. A duct, 6, for cold or tempered air communicates with each of said hot-air ducts. It will be understood that normally there are as many hot air ducts 4 and 5 as there are rooms to be heated and in view of the fact that each air duct has its own con- I have for the sake of clearness trolling apparatus all parts thereof being identical, it is not thought necessary to u11-' duly burden the description with detailed explanations of duplicate parts and therefore the description will be confined to the e duct 4 communicates. 7 designates a pivoted damper positioned in the cold air duct 6 and connected by a link 8 to asecond-pivoted damper 9 located in the heated air duct 4 the one of course controlling the supply of heated air and the other the supply of cold or tempered air so that the air which is mixed after passing the two dampers is delivered to the room at a temperature predetermined by thesetiin of the regulating devices. It will. be note that the two dampers 7 and 9are connected so as to be simultaneously operable, the one being open or partiall open while the other is closed or partially c osed and both are operated in the present instance through the medium of a rod 10 connected to the lever arm 11 of a diaphragm valve or pressure motor 12, the said lever arm 11 being fulcrumed at 13 so that operation of the arm 11 will cause the damper 7 to move toward the open osition while the damper 9 correspondmgly moves to the closed position. V

14 designates a pipe for conveying pressure fluid to the motor 12 and is in communication with a valve casing 15 by way of the port 16 as shown in Flg. 4.

17 designates the-inlet port for the casing 15 which in thepresent mstanceis formed in anipple 18 having screw-threaded engagement with the casing 15 and provided with avalve seat l9' 'a's will be apparent.

Pressure fluid is sup lied to the inlet 17 and casing15 by way 0 the live 1pipe line 20 which is under pressure of t e receiving tank 21connectedby pipe 22 to the air compressor 23' which may of course be of any desired or wellj known type for the purpose.

-24 designates the valve lug forcontrolling the inlet port 17 an the same is the present instance is rovidedwith the conical ends 25 and 26 t e former engaging the ,which relieves the at the' proper time.

-vaive plug 24 is provided with aflange or collar28 which serves as an abutment for .a'spring 29ewhich is interposedbetween'the; said abutment and the nipple 18f and lifts the valve to open position under certain conditions to be resently describedr The valve .24' just-descri ad is utilized at a number ofplaces in the system for. controlling fluid.

pressure to diaphragm valves of one typeor another and in order that the operation of the system may more readil be understood, I have designated this 'v ve as a uniafiparatus controlling'the room with which tary structure by the reference letter A and the remaining valves similar thereto by the letters B, G, D, E, and F all of which are operated and controlled in the present instance by electrical means embodying the following structure.

30 designates a pair of electro-magnets each having a core 31 adjustably secured by bolts 32 or the like to the plate 33 ofthe valve casing 15' so that these parts remain in fixed position.

34 designates the armature for these magnets which is suitably disposed adjacent the poles of the magnets and mounted upon the threaded stem 35 which is positioned in alinement with the projecting stem 36 of the valve plug 24 and under normal condition the said stem 35 is in engagement with the valve plug and holds the valve closed until such time as the electro-magnets are energized.

37 designates the up er core plate of the magnets which is prei erabIy apertured to receive the end of the stem 35 which terminates in opposed relation to a thumb adjusting screw 38threaded into a yoke 39 fixed to the magnet frame by screws 40 or the like.

41 and 42 designate binding posts for the conductors carrying the current to the aforesaid electro-magnets.

43 designates a spring interposed between i a suitable fixed plate 44 and adjusting nuts 45 upon the stem 35, the-said spring being stifier and stronger than the spring 29 of the valve member 24 so that the stem 35 under normal deenergized condition engages the-stem 36 of the valve and maintains the latter in closed position.

46 designates adjusting nuts for the end of the stem 35 so that the latter may be relatively adjusted to the stem 36 as will readily be understood.

The operation of this valve is as follows :-Whenever a circuit is closed through the magnets 30 the armature 34 will e drawn toward the magnet-and in a direction to carry the stem 35 away from or out of contact with the valve stem 36 whereupon the spring 29 will actuate the valve plug 24 so that the exhaust'port 27 is closed and the inlet 17 opened and pressure is thereupon supplied to the pipe .14 from the live line 20. In the present instance, I have utilized the armature 34 as a circuit closer for an auxiliary circuit the terminals of which are shown and I designated. by the reference numerals 47. and 48, the said terminals being so positioned that. whenever the armature 34 is drawntoward the magnets, it will contact withjtheaioresaid terminal and close a circuit which will'later be described.

The above description relates entirely to the control mechanism for the temperature ducts with the omission of the automatic i designate respectively .pipe 65 from 'nozzle 49 is connected to the outlet 60 while regulating-devices for such control mechanism, since it is thought the operation and construction will be clearer by leaving the automatic feature until later. The description of the humidity control mechanism will therefore now be taken up in detail.

49 designates a nozzle suitably positionedto discharge into the yond the two dampers trolled in the present a diaphragm motor present. instance as duct 4 at a point he- 7 and 9 and it is coninstance by meansof 50 constructed in the follows :51 and 52 sections of the casingof the motor 50 which in the present instance are in threaded engagement, as Shown 11st; 3,- and clam Ph agm plate 54.

between them the dia- This latter is formed of flex1ble material and divides the casing into the chambers 55 and 56, the latter having communication through the port 57 with the inlet 58 of the casing section 52. 59 designates a valve plug suitably fixed to the diaphragm 54 and serving as a control means for the outlet 60 of the section casing 52. The plug 59 has an extension 61 on the opposite side of the diaphragm 54 which is suitably guided in the recess 62 which communicates by way of the threaded opening 63 with a pipe 64 leading to the valve B which is connected with the live line or the receiving tank 21. The

the inlet 58 communicates with the live steam or vapor line 66 the latter being supplied from a. generator 67. 68 designates the smoke flue of the generator 67 which communicates with-the stack 69 the regulation of which will presently be described.

From the above description it will be apparent that when the electro-magnets 30 of the valve B are energized, pressure fluid Will be admitted from the live line 65 to the pipe 64 and conveyed to the motor 50 which is thereupon actuated to close the valve 59 and cut off the supply of saturated vapor or steam to the nozzle 49, since the pressure of said fluid admitted back of the valve extension 61 is always greater than the pressure in the steam or vapor line 66. Under normal conditions therefore the valve 59 will be maintained open by the pressure of the steam from the generator 67 and the mlxed air in the duct 4 will be supplied with saturated vapor suficient to maintain the predetermined conditions of humidity.

It will now be apparent that the valves instruments respectively located in the room to be controlled there being of course as many sets of these instruments as there are rooms to be regulated and therefore but one set1 of instruments will be described in detai v 70 designates a dry bulb thermometer and 71--a wet bulb thermometerboth instruments being of well known construction and of any desired type for the purpose in view.

72 designates a wire leading from the battery 73 and forming the common return for all the instruments included in the circuit, the said wire having terminals 74 sealed respectively into the dry and wet bulbs 70 and 71 and of course in contact with the mercury in the said bulbs.

Considering first the circuit for the dry bulbs, 75 designates a terminal sealed into the bulb at a predetermined point, namely, the one corresponding to the highest temperature desired or temperature to be maintained in a given room. The terminal wire 75 is connected by a wire 76 to the binding post 41 ofthe electro-magnet controlled valve A and the circuit is completed through the electro-magnets, binding post 42 and wire 77 back to the battery, a switch 78 be ing interposed in this line if desired.

79 designates an incandescent light connected in parallel with the electro-magnet in order to flash a signal to indicate that this valve is operated, this often being a useful source of information to the operator in control of the system 80 designates a terminal of the wet bulb circuit which is sealed into the said bulb at the point corresponding to the temperature at which artificial humidity is to be maintained, that is to say; artificial humidity will be supplied to the air ductuntil the mercury in the wet bulb forms a connection between the terminals 74 and 80. When this takes place a circuit is closed by way of the wire 81, binding post 41 of valve B, electro-magnets 30, binding post 42 and wire 82 to wire 77 to the battery. The closing of either of the foregoing circuits energizes the electromagnets 30 and allows the plug valve 24 to open and admit pressure fluid to the control motors for either the dampers 7 and 9 or the humidity nozzle 49, depending of course upon whether the wet or dry bulb has closed the circuit. Of course should both instruments close their respective circuits simultaneously then both the damper control and humidit nozzle would simultaneously be actuate the one being opened to admit cold or tempered air while the other would be cut ofl' entirely.

In the operation of a system such as above described, it occurs more or less frequently that atcertain times all of the rooms will simultaneously require less heat or simultaneously require a diminution in the-sup- 5 a manner'as' do the same valves w or's ck draftof the respective generators and r this pur ose I provide a damper83 located'in the ue 2 and controlled by a pressure motor 84 similar tojthe'motor 12 heretofore'described. Themotor 84 is actuated by'pressure fluid transmitted by the pipe 85 from the live line 20 and controlled j by the electro-magnet actuated valve E so 'as to open and close the damper 83 at the times desired, the opening of the latter of course creating more draft in the enerator and the closing thereof checking t e generator.

v The mechanism for controlling the humidlty generator 67 is substantially similar since it comprises a damper 86 located in the flue 68 and controlled by a pressure motor 87 controlled 'bypressure fluid supplied by the pipe' 88. This pipe connects with the 'outlet' 16" of the electro-magnetic control valve F and receives pressure fluid from the live pipe 65 as heretofore explained 1 J I The two'valvesE and F therefore become respectively a controlling means for the temperature and the humidity of the entire system, 1 and operate ,in exactlyl the same ich control conditions for the individual rooms; The

" A circuit for energizingthe magnets of the armatures' 34, electro-magnets of valve a valves'E and F' is, however,a separate and" diife'rent'circuit than those heretofore descr bed, since it is controlled by the simultaneous actuation of allthe armatures 3410f either the temperature magnets or the hu-'. ,midity'magnets as the case may be.- Thus for example, shouldfall the rooms 'simul tane'ously reach an excess temperature the armaturesof the-valves A and C'of lii'gnjl will beoperate'd to close the respective terminals 47 and 48 thus closing the circuit by way of the wire' 89, contacts 47 and, 48

and return to the battery by wire 7 7 The humidityfjcontrol'governor valveF is similarly operated by the simultaneous actuatron ofthe valves B and Dec as to close a circuit from battery 73, conductor 89, contacts' 47 and-48, armature34of valves Band embodying my invention 'w paratusis arranged to supply a large n'um er,

of and in which I have designated the parts for convenience" with the 3 {same 1 D,felectro.-magnets of valve F and return'by [conductor 82' to conductor 77 to the battery.

In Fig 21' have shown a'pla'n of? system erein t e ap numerals of referencefas used in Fi 1 where itis possible to do so, so that t ere will not be a" multiplicity of reference numerals and consequent confusion.

The operation of the device is as follows:In each room, apartment or the like which is to be heated and regulated as to temperature and humidity, there is located a thermometer and a wet-bulb thermometer 71- connected in accordance with the foregoing description and each room also of course is connected with the heating plant by a duct such as 4 receiving both heated and cold or tempered air. In starting the apparatus, it will be assumed that the room is cold and therefore the mercury in the instruments is at a point below the terminals '75 and 80, while the dampers 7 and 9 are positioned so as to close the cold or tempered air supply heatedair only. VVith this heated air the vapor from nozzle 49 is mixed and supplies the room with warm air saturated to the desired condition. As the temperature rises, the mercury in both the wet and dry bulbs expands until the contact of the mercury in the dry bulb engages the adjusted terminal 75, it of course being apparent that the mercury in the wet bulb rises much more slowly owing to the evaporation of the moisture upon the same.

Considering the room in which the instruments G are located to be the one under discussion', contact of the mercury with the terminal 75 will close the circuit through the electro-magnetsl 30 of valve A and also simultaneously flash' the indicator light 79.

The energizing of these magnets raises the armature 34 and'allows the spring 29 to open the inlet valve 17 and permit the pressure fluid to enter the pipe 14 and actuate the pressure motor' 12. This action operates the dampers 7 and 9 so that. the former is opened while the latter is closedand thus the room is immediately'supplied with. air at a lower temperature causing areductlon of tem erature in the room, As soon as this reductlon affects the dry bulb 70, the mercury contracts and breaks the circuit just established whereupon the spring 43 of the valveAireturns the armature to its former position and at the same time the stem 35 strikes thevalve plug 24 and returns it .to closed position allowing the pipe 14 to exe haus't through the port'27. As a result of' this action the dampers 7 vand 9- are'swung in the reverse direction to open the hot air duct and cut down the cold air duct. While this operation is taking place, the increase in. the humidity due to the artificial/supply causes the -mercury inthewet bulb 71 to rise until'a circuit isi closfedby its con tact with the terminal whereupon a circuit is and open the duct 4 to.

through thejelectrol-magnet valve B and pressure fluid admitted by way of pipe 64 to the motor 50 which thereupon cuts off the supply of vapor to the duct 4.

In the event that the automatic regulat- 5 \ing instruments in each room are .all simulcuit through the electro-magnet valve F thus admitting pressure fluid to the pipe 88 and closing the damper 86 of the humidity generator so as to check the supply of vapor to all. of the rooms. 7

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel method and apparatus of regulating the temperature and humidity of a room or a number of rooms, wherein the temperature controlled mechanism and the humidity controlled mechanism are independently operable in the same system and automatically control and regulate the mixing of the room heating medium.

It will further be seen that by this novel system the supply of moisture to the heating medium for any particular room requiring more moisture or any combination of rooms requiring the same is automatically controlled by a regulator actuated by the wet bulb controlling that room, so that the supply of moisture necessary is delivered to that room, and the humidity thereof raised to the desired point. In a similar manner, if the rooms require less heat, the temperature regulator will automatically cut down the supply of heat regardless of whether the rooms require more moisture or not.

It will further be apparent that by my novel system I am enabled not only to control and regulate the temperature of. any particular room or any group of rooms but in connection therewith I have provided a novel automatic governing mechanlsm for simultaneously controlling the temperature and humidity of all the rooms together by acting directly upon the heat and humidlty generators. This governing system 1s, how.- ever, actuated only at the time when allot the rooms'in the system are simultaneously demanding less heat or lesshumidity and it therefore acts as a safety governor for directly regulating the fuel consumption.

It will further be apparent by my novel method of heat regulation that the temperature chan e or humidity change requiredto actuate the various mechamsms is very slight and it will therefore be understood that the device in so far as the temperature in each of is concerned accomplishes automatic mixing. By automatic mixing I mean that on account of the fact that the mixing dampers are adjusted to move very slowly, approximately three minutes being required to change them from-one position to the other through substantially the complete movement, and in view of the fact that an'extremely slight operation of the damper. will make or break thev electric control circuit, the mixing dampers are started on the u stroke before they have completed the down stroke, that is to say, after the temperature of the room has reached the point at which the regulating instruments are-set, a' slight change in tem erature may occur, which immediately a ects the mixing dampers, so that the latter are practically in constant motion either up or down to produce an automatic mixing of the heated supply.

It will further be apparent that changes inthe wet bulb damper will actuate the mechanisms in the same way, and a very slight difference in the humidity will cause practically an instantaneous variation in the humidity supply, owing to the extreme sensitiveness of the automatic devices.

It will further be apparent that while I have described the device 'as used inconnection with an indirect heating system as shown in Fig. 2, the same is readily applicable to direct systems of heating and may be adapted readily to any of the direct known systems in use where the heating surface is placed in the room itself to be heated. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The method of temperature and humidity regulation, which consists in providing a source of temperature and of humidity changing mediums in communication with a plurality of inclosures, and of maintaining a predetermined temperature and a predetermined relative humidity in each of the plurality of inclosures, irrespective of the temperatures and relative humidities maintained in the other inclosures.

2. The method of temperature and humidity regulation, which consists in providing a source of temperature and of humidity changing mediums in communication with a plurallty' of inclosures, and of maintaining automatically a predetermined temperapredetermined relative humidity, the plurality of inclosures, irreture and a spective of the temperatures and relative humidities maintained inthe other inclosures.

3. The method of temperature and humidity regulation which consists in independently causing the temperature and humldity of each of a number ofrooms or places to respectively control and maintain the temperature andhumidity of each of said rooms at predetermined fixed points,

' and causing the temperature of all of said rooms .under predetermined conditions to? control the main source of temperature supply to all of said rooms. i

' i." The method of temperature and humidity regulation which consists in independently causing the temperature andhumidity'of each of a number of rooms or I places, to respectively control and maintain to all ofsaidrooms.

{ places to respectively control and maintain the temperature and humidity of each of said rooms at' predetermined fixed points, and causing the humidity and temperature I of all of said rooms under predetermined "conditions tocontrol the main supply of temperature and humidity to all of said rooms. X

6. The method of temperature and humidity regulation which consists in provid- '1 ing a; source of temperature changing mediumand of humidity changing medium in communication with a plurality of inclosures, in :admitting a mixture of said temperature changing medium and air of normal temperature toeach ofv said inclosures,

in automatically, controlling the degree of inixture for each'iinclosure by means influenced. by the temperature therein, admit- I tin humid va or into said mixture for each in vidual .inc osure',automatically' coni. trolling such admission for each inclosure by '5; means influenced bythe degree of humidity Which means is inpperation. v I I -7.-', The' method f temperature and, hu-- I midity regulation which consists in providtherein "and.- in; automatically indicating ing a source of I temperaturqchanging medium and of humidity supply 1n cemmunicw I .tion with a plurality of inclosures, indi-q I vidually controllin the introduction ottthe temperature and I umidity chaiigi'ng closures.

diums into each inclosure to maintain the temperature and humidity therein at a predetermined standard irrespective of the standard in another inclosure, and in automatically and individually indicating when thetemperature and humldity of each room is at or below the predetermined standard.

8. The method of temperature and humidity regulation, which consists in providing a source of temperature and of humidity changing mediums in communication with a plurality of inclosures, and of controlling the introduction of the temperature and humidity changing mediums into each of the plurality of inclosures, to maintain a predetermined' temperature and a predetermined relative humidity in each of said plurality of inclosures, irrespective of the temperatures and relative humidities maintained in the other inclosures.

9. The method of temperature and humidity regulation, which consists in providing a source of temperature and of humidity changing mediums in communication with a plurality of inclosures, and of controlling automatically and separately the introduction of the tem erature and humidity changing mediums into each of the plurality of inclosures to maintain a predetermined temperature and a redetermined relative humidity in eacho the plurality of inclosures, irrespective of the temperatures and relative humidities-maintained in the other in- 10. The method of-temper'ature and humidity regulation, which consists in providing a source of temperature and of humidity changin mediums in communication with a plurality of inclosures, in admitting the temperature changing medium to each of said inclosures, in automatically controlling the admission of the temperature changing medium for each inclosure by means influenced by the temperature therein, admitting-humidity changing medium to each of said inclosures, and in automatically controlling such admission for each inclosure by means influenced by the relative humidity therein.

FRANK D. WINDELL.

Witnesses:

C. D. MCVAY, IM- as 

